J 



Manila and 
The Philippine Islands 



An Up-to-date Handbook of 
Facts 



COMPIIvKD FROM OFFICIAI. UNITED STATES WAR DEPART 

MENT'S INFORMATION, SPANISH REPORTS 

AND ORIGINAI, INVESTIGATION 




PUBUSHED BY 

THE PHILIPPINES COMPANY 
NEW YORK 






9 



Copyright 1899 by The Philippines Company 



By transit^) 

DEC 6 19b 



V«4 




Manila and 
The Philippine Islands 



THIS group of islands, which now become the pos- 
session of the United States through the bravery 
and abiUty of Admiral Dewey and those under 
his command, confirmed by subsequent diplo- 
macy, were discovered by the Spanish navigator, Magel- 
lan, on March 12, 1521. In 1564 Don Miguel ]topez 
de Legazpi sailed with an expedition from Brazil and 
founded a Spanish settlement where the town of Cebu 
now is. It was then that the islands were named the 
Philippines in honor of Philip II, then King of Spain. 
Ever since that date the islands have been nominally 
under the rule of Spain, although several of the islands 
and parts of other islands have been governed by inde- 
pendent Malay Mahomedans, who have disputed this 
Spanish rule. In truth, the Spanish authority has not 
extended much beyond the sea coast and a little way 
along some of the more important rivers. In either case, 
whether under Spanish rule or under the rule of the 
more or less savage Malay, there has been nothing ap- 
proaching the ideal of proper government ; there has 
been no satisfactory protection of property rights ; there 
has been no encouragement to enterprise ; there has 
been no adequate aid to the development ot the wonder- 
ful resources of the islands. The chief aim of the Gov- 
ernor-General of the Spaniards, no less than that of the 
Sultans of the Malayan Mahomedans, has been pillage. 
In one case it has been more apparently legal, perhaps, 
than in the other ; but whether it has taken the form of 
excessive taxation, or of government monopoly of the 
tobacco trade, or more ordinary robbery — it has been 
pillage. 



4 MANILA AND THK 

The Philippine Islands lie southeast of Asia, extending 
from 5° 32' to 19° 38' north latitude and from 117° to 
126° east longitude, about 1,000 miles in a line approxi- 
mately north and south, and in width in a line east and 
west about 700 miles (see map). They lie between the 
Pacific Ocean on the east and the China Sea on the west. 
Various estimates of the number of the islands have been 
made, varying from 400 to 3,200 ; but the most, the best 
authorities estimate, places the number at 1,400. Many 
of them, however, are mere islets. Luzon on the north 
is the largest of the group, having an area of nearly 
41,000 square miles. Mindanao, the southermost of the is- 
lands, has an area of 37,456 square miles. These two 
islands alone would make a territory worthy acquisition 
and worthy development. The western coast of Luzon is 
about 600 miles distant from the eastern coast of Asia. 
The total area of the archipelago is something over 
114,000 square miles. 

The islands are mountainous and hilly. Volcanic ac- 
tion has had much to do in causing and shaping the 
archipelago ; but of active, or as one might say, working 
volcanoes, there are very few. Some of the mountains 
attain considerable height; Apo, in Mindanao, is over 
9,000 feet high ; Halson, in Mindoro, 8,865 ; Malindaras, 
in Mindanao, 8,685 ; Mayon, in Luzon, 8,275, and Mala- 
pina, in Negros, 8,190 feet. These mountains are densely 
wooded, and are an important factor in the future devel- 
opment of the wealth of the islands. 

HARBORS* 

The immense coast line of the islands contains a great 
number of good harbors, but as a consequence of the ex- 
clusive policy of the Spanish Government in closing them 
to foreign commerce, very little is known except to coast- 
wise navigators. Trade is confined chiefly to Manila, 
Iloilo, Cebu, and Sual. Zamboanga, on the island of 
Mindanao, is also an open port. 

The Bay of Manila, one of the finest in the world, is 
about 120 miles in circumference, with very few dangers 
to navigation. (See plan of Manila on separate map. ) 



PHII.IPPINK ISI.ANDS ^ 

There are two long piers running out from the mouth 
of the Pasig River, one terminating in a lighthouse, and 
the other in a small fort. In stormy weather safe an- 
chorage is found off Cavite, some eight miles to the south- 
west by water. At that point is found the naval estab- 
lishment, including a marine railway, capable of taking 
from the water vessels of 2,000 tons displacement, and 
a dock for small vessels. 

Iloilo, the second port in importance, is on the island 
of Panay, near its southeastern extremity and about 250 
miles in a direct line from Manila. Well-protected and 
naturally good anchorage for large vessels is found out- 
side the mouth of the Iloilo River, but small vessels en- 
ter it and discharge cargoes at the town wharves. 

MANILA* 

Manila (see plan of Manila and island of Luzon on 
separate map), capital of the Philippine Archipelago and 
the province of this name, has 300,000 to 400,000 in- 
habitants, and was founded in 1571, on the left bank of 
the mouth of Rio Pasig at its junction with the Pacific 
Ocean. 

It is a fortified city, encircled by a wall with bastions 
and bulwarks and a ditch and outer ditch, where it does 
not front on the sea or river. The waters of the sea or 
river can be let in and thus isolate the city, by opening 
the sluices constructed for this purpose. There are six 
gates — three to the north, on the road to the river Pasig, 
called Almacenes, Santo Domingo, and Isabel II ; and 
three on the land side, called Parian, Real, and Santa 
Lucia. All are well defended by bastions, particularly 
on the land side. Besides the gates there is a bastion to 
the north-northwest of the gate of Santa Lucia, which is 
not always open. 

The gate Real, formerly enfiladed the Plaza Mayor and 
the palace of the Governor, but since the taking of the 
city by the English in 1762, it has been placed in front of 
the college of San Jose, where it is now situated, and 
public entrance is made through the gate of Parian. The 



6 MANII.A AND THK 

land side is the most exposed and the best fortified, but 
for convenience the description will begin at the most 
advanced point formed by the river and sea, which is to 
be found at the extreme northwest of the city and de- 
fended by the royal fort of Santiago. Thence it w^ill fol- 
low the bank of the river to the extreme northeast, where 
the bastion to San Gabriel is situated, from wdiich point, 
proceeding along the trace in an oblique direction, first to 
the northeast, then to the east, and finally to the south, 
the extremity of the part in the battery of San Gregorio 
and the bastion of San Diego is reached. From here one 
turns to the southwest along the coast, which leads to the 
before-mentioned fort of Santiago.' This fort is a citadel, 
defending the entrance to the river and the northwest 
angle of the city. Originally built of wood, it assumed 
its present form by order of Governor Gomez, who sur- 
rounded the city with good fortifications. The fort has 
a gate to the plaza and a false one to the river. In front 
and on the other side of this, is found the fort of Fer- 
nando, which has no great strength. 

On the east of the royal fort of Santiago, and at a short 
distance from it on the same side of the river, is found 
the bastion Tenerias ; next, in the vSame direction to the 
gate of Almacenes ; more to the east the battery of the 
military hospital. Not far from this on the same line, 
the gate of Santo Domingo, with its strong battery ; 
next, the bastion of the customs house (Aduana) ; next, 
the gate of Isabel II, and lastly, the bastion of San 
Gabriel, which terminates the line of fortifications along 
the river. Joined to this bastion on the exterior side is 
found the Plaza Nueva. Still following the trace from 
the bastion of San Gabriel, one arrives at the gate of 
Parian, through which it is necessary to pass in a north- 
erly direction to reach the bridge of Pasig. Leading 
south from this gate, is a beautifully paved highway of 
great breadth, and to the southeast is the bastion Diablo. 
South of this point is the postern of Recoletos, and jnst 
beyond, the bastion of San Andres. Thence, to the 
southwest, is situated the royal gate, and, as has been 
stated, the extreme southern point is defended by the 
bastion of San Diego, protected by the battery of San 



PHlttPPlNfi: ISI.ANDS ' 

Gregorio, which is built on the exterior line in the angle 
of the plaza. 

Many of these works have deteriorated with time, and 
the expenditure of a little money and labor, especially at 
,the stragetic points of Santiago Point, Restinga Point, 
and Corregidor, would be of great benefit. The streets 
are straight, w^ell paved, and illuminated. Prominent 
among its buildings are the governor's palace, the royal 
court of chancery, and the convent of San Augustin, with 
its handsome church ; the church and convent of the 
Recollects of San Francisco, whose buildings occupy an 
immense space ; the royal college and pontifical univer- 
sity of St. Thomas, which is spacious, well constructed, 
and possesses a notable physical laboratory ; the munici- 
pal athenaeum, in charge of the Jesuits, with a physical 
laboratory, natural history museum, and a magnificent 
apparatus for astronomical observations ; the mihtary 
hospital, with room for 1,000 beds, and the spacious and 
well-attended hospital of San Juan de Dios. Among the 
buildings ruined in the earthquake of 1863, some of 
which are being reconstructed and others already so, are 
the large and well-constructed cathedral, the customs 
building, etc. 

Within the fortified city reside, generally speaking, the 
authorities of the archipelago, who have the same mission 
and the same hierarchy as those of Cuba. 

The real nucleus of the population of Manila is in its 
vSuburbs. These comprise the pueblos called Binondo ; 
San Jose ; Santa Cruz, with fifteen wards ; Quiapo, with 
two wards ; San Miguel, with seven wards ; Sampaloc, 
with thirty-nine \{^ards, and Tondo, with eighteen wards. 
The neighborhoods of these suburbs are delightful and 
picturesque, with their rivers, lagoons, creeks, islands, 
quarries, and little hamlets. Good bridges facilitate com- 
munication between Manila and its suburbs. The sub- 
urb of Binondo is the most mercantile of the archipelago ; 
here are the central administration of revenues and mo- 
nopolies, general tobacco warehouses, and the adminis- 
tration of finances of the province. Its streets are narrow 
and the houses tastefully and solidly built. On the 
breakwater of the jetty extending out into the bay is a 



8 MANII.A AND THE 

third-class lighthouse, and the steamers which perform 
the service of the bay and make periodical trips to the 
provinces of Cavite, Bantangas, Bulucan, and Pam- 
panga, close in along the river. 

North of Binnodo, separated by a river spanned by 
several bridges is the suburb of Tondo, extending to the 
west of the bay, on flat, sandy ground. The houses are 
in general constructed of cane and nipa (a species of palm 
with feathery leaves) ; the streets are narrow, and there 
is a handsome church, a small theatre, and a good market- 
place. Northeast of Binondo is the suburb of Santa 
Cruz, with good buildings, a flower market, theatre, pub- 
lic jail, leper hospital under the Franciscans, and a ceme- 
tery for Chinese or Sangley infieles (infidels). 

Northeast of Manila and at the extremity of the suburb 
of Santa Cruz is the suburb of Quiapo, with good houses, 
handsome and well-aligned streets, and a pretty market- 
place. There are the tribunal of the natives, an elegant 
and solid structure ; the well-built suspension bridge over 
the Pasig, measuring 350 feet long by 23 feet wide ; the 
magnificent inarket of the Quinta, and the spacious and 
pretty San Sebastian street, with elegant buildings and 
convenient porticos at the end, being the sanctuary of 
San Sebastian under the Augustin Recollects. 

The suburb of San Miguel is situated to the east of 
Manila, on the opposite bank of the Pasig River, being 
connected with Quiapo by a good wooden bridge ; it has 
good buildings and a comfortable and well-ventilated bar- 
racks. Along the river are a number of villas, the last one 
being called Malacamang, the residence of the supreme 
authority of the archipelago. It consists of an elegant 
palace divided into two parts, surrounded by gardens, 
with good wharves on the river. On the island of San 
Andres, situated in the centre of the river Pasig, is the 
convalescent hospital, spacious, and with good hygienic 
conditions, the San Jose poorhouseand the insane asylum. 
To the east of the island are the San Andres and San 
Rafael batteries, the southern part serving as support to 
the bridge uniting the suburb of San Miguel with San 
Miguel Viego. 



PHII^IPPINB ISLANDS 9 

To the northeast of Manila, adjoining it and fronting 
on the river bank, is the place known as Arroceros (rice 
mills), a much frequented spot, where are located the 
tobacco factories, in one of which over 7,000 female 
laborers are constantly occupied ; also the botanical gar- 
den, the barracks of the regiment of peninsular artillery, 
the Spanish theatre, the Kiosko, designed for public 
dances, and the slaughterhouse. 

A mile and three-quarters south of Manila, on the 
banks of the bay, is the pueblo of Malate. It is crossed 
by the highway from the capital to Cavite ; it has a 
fine church, an infantry barracks occupied by a regi- 
ment of that arm, and a cavalry barracks, quartering 
the lancer squadron of Luzon ; both are good and 
spacious. 

On the shores of the Pasig is the paseo (promenade) of 
Magallanes, on which is erected an obelisk dedicated to 
the memory of the illustrious mariner, Magellan. On 
the paseo delmalecon (dike promenade), is another monu- 
ment recalling the patriotism of the oidor (judge) Anda. 
There are cockpits and luxurious cafes, the Spanish 
recreation club, a military library founded by royal or- 
der of February 15, 1846, and outside the town a riding 
school and race course. 

The garrison of Manila and its suburbs are composed 
of three regiments of infantry, a battalion of artillery, 
the squadron of cavalry, and a regiment of veteran gen- 
darmery (guardia civil). 

POSTAL SERVICE. 

The general postal service of the north comprises the 
provinces of Bataan, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pan- 
gasinan. Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Nortre, and the dis- 
tricts of Lepanto, Bontoc, Benguet, Tiagan, Porac, and 
Corregidor. 

The cross-country line comprises the provinces of Bul- 
acan, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabella, Cagayan, 
and the districts of Principe and Sultan. 

The general service of the south comprises the prov- 
inces of lyaguna, Batangas, Mindora, Tayabas, Camarines 



10 MANII.A AND THK 

Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, and the districts of Moring, 
Masbate, and Ticao, and Infanta and Burias. 

That of Cavite (two expeditions daily). 

That of Pampanga, Bataan, and El Corregidor. 

That of Bulacan, Pampanga, and Nueva Ecija. 

That of Ivaguna, (by steamer). 

That of Ivaguna, Batangas, and Mindoro, river route. 

That of the interior of the provinces of Manila. 

That of the Batanes Islands. 

That of Balabac, Laucan, Puerto-Princesa, Zanibo- 
anga, and PoUok. 

In the maritime provinces of the archipelago the arri- 
vals and departures are uncertain, the service being per- 
formed by coasting vessels. 

MANILA BAY. 

The general map of the island of Luzon shows, in gen- 
eral outline, Manila Bay and Cavite, the port and marine 
arsenal of Manila, off which the engagement of May 
first took place. Manila Bay is about thirty miles in ex- 
tent each way. The land on both sides of the entrance 
is high and covered with vegetation, while the shores at 
the head are low, marshy, and intersected by numerous 
small rivers, estuaries, and tide lakes. Fortifications 
were erected commanding the opening of the bay with 
the additional protection of submarine mines; depth of 
water, from sixteen to seventeen fathoms. 

Corregidor, or Mariveles, and Pulo Caballo are islands 
dividing the entrance of Manila Bay into two channels. 
Corregidor, the principal island, six hundred feet high, 
lies near the north shore, and is three miles in length, 
east to west. There is a lighthouse on its summit. On 
its north side is a small bay, protected by breakwaters, 
affording anchorage for small vessels, and from Buri 
Point a reef just to the southward toward Caballo Island, 
on a low spur of which is a fixed light. It is the 
channel between Caballo Island and the mainland, which 
was used by the United States squadron, and which was, 
apparently, not defended at all. 

Manila is about twenty-five miles from the entrance of the 
bay. A telegraph connected Manila with Hongkong, the 



PHII.IPPINB ISI.ANDS 



11 



cable, 'which was originally landed at Cape Bolinao, having 
been shifted to the chief town. Manila's total export 
and import trade is worth about six and one-half millions 
sterling. The length of quayage in the river Pasig is 
4,250 feet, but the river, the average breadth of which is 
350 feet, is too narrow to allow vessels to turn. The 
longest vessel using the river regularly is 231 feet. 
Larger vessels lie at anchor in the bay. Pasig River, 
which is navigable for about ten miles, is the principal 
channel of communication with the interior ; there is a 
depth of eleven feet on the bar at low water. It passes be- 
tween the commercial districts and the fortress of Manila. 
At its mouth is a breakwater, and a battery is placed on 
the southern mole. 

Cavite is a fort, which stands on a low point of 
land, i-s fortified, and more guns are said to have recently 
been placed in position. The Spanish troops were in 
garrison there. The whole number of ofl&cers and 
troops in the islands on November 1, 1897, was about 
46,168, having been largely reinforced in 1 896-' 97 to 
quell the revolution. At Cavite vessels are built and re- 
paired, the port having excellent conveniences. There 
is a slip with a cradle 270 feet broad, and hydraulic 
power capable of drawing 2,000 tons. Workshops contain 
appliances of all kinds. A dock for gunboats and a 
larger private dock for vessels of 15,000 tons have been 
constructed. The harbor, or cove, is a good one, with 
shelter from west and southwest winds, and a depth of 
water of three and one-quarter fathoms. From Cavite to 
Manila by water is seven miles, but by road fifteen miles. 
Ivarge vessels generally anchor off Cavite harbor, about 
a mile from the shore, in five fathoms. Here the 
Spanish flotilla was placed. 

TRADE. 

Early commerce with the world was greatly restricted 
by the efforts of Spain to secure a monopoly of her sub- 
jects. It was not until 1809 that the first English firm 
obtained permission to establish a business house in Ma- 
nila. In 1814 this permission was more general. It is, 



12 MANIIvA AND THK 

however, only since 1834 that greater freedom of inter- 
course and larger introduction of foreign capital and 
methods have materially affected the development of nat- 
ural resources. 

Internal commerce, as well as foreign trade, suffers 
from lack of facilities for transportation. This is marked 
during the rainy season, when coasting is dangerous, and 
land carriage impeded by bad roads and the swollen con- 
dition of the streams. But one railroad has been built, 
running from Manila to Pangasinan (123 miles). A sin- 
gle track road, it is of substantial construction, and con- 
nects the capital with the rice-growing districts. 

COMMUNICATIONS* 

Manila is connected with Hongkong by cable and by 
line of steamers. There is a line running from Manila to 
lyiverpool, known as the Compania Transatlantica, which 
has three large steamers averaging 4,500 tons and about 
4,000 horse-power each. The average speed is about 
twelve knots. This line maintains a monthly service to 
Europe, calling at Singapore, Colombo, Aden, Suez, 
Port Said and Barcelona. Prompt competition is antici- 
pated. There are also four lines of steamers between 
Manila and Hongkong, by which most of the passenger 
and freight business is done. 

Many local lines of steamers ply between Manila and 
the provinces, the largest being the Compania Maritima, 
which has twenty-eight steamers with a total of 25,000 
tons. (In northeast monsoon leave about 10 a. m. ; south- 
west monsoon, 4 p. m. ) Ynchansta & Company have two 
small steamers of 1,000 tons; S. P. Yanger, one small 
steamer of 500 tons ; De la Rama & Brothers, three small 
steamers (coasters) of 500 tons ; and Armstrong & Sloan, 
three small coasters of 400 tons. The usual points 
touched by these steamers include all the ports in the Phil- 
ippine group ; also the Caroline and Mariana Islands. 
Nearly all ships were built in England, and are strong 
and well adapted to the trade. They are not fast, seldom 
exceeding twelve knots per hour, but are fitted with 
latest improvements. 



PHIIylPPIN:^) ISLANDS 1^ 

PHILIPPINE LINES* 

Compania Transatlantica de Barcelona line of the 
Philippines extension, Iloilo, Cebu, and combinations to 
Gulf of Persia, east coast of Africa, India, China, Japan, 
and Australia makes thirteen trips annually, leaving Bar- 
celona every fourth Saturday, and from Manila every 
fourth Thursday. 

The Spanish mail steamers in the Philippines prior to 
the naval battle of Manila were the following : 

The Spanish steamer Elcano, or another boat belong- 
ing to the Compania Maritima, leaves Manila for Singa- 
pore every twenty-eight days, in connection with French 
mail steamers returning homeward with mails after arri- 
val of outward steamer. 

The Spanish Royal Mail Line from Manila direct to 
Barcelona, calling at Singapore, Colombo, Aden and Port 
Said, also leaves Manila every twenty-eight days. Dur- 
ing the southwest monsoon the boats do not always call 
at Colombo. 

The North Luzon Line is from Manila to Subic, Olan- 
gapo (the north arsenal, and where the large floating 
dock is to be erected), Bolinao, San Fernando, Croayan 
and Currimas (all these on the west coast of Luzon and 
Aparri, entrance to Rio Grande in the extreme north of 
Luzon). 

The South Luzon Line runs from Manila to Batangas, 
Calapan, Laguimanos, Passacoa, Donsol, Sonsogon, Leg- 
aspi and Tobaco. 

The Southeast Line runs from Manila to Romolon, 
Cebu, Cabolian, Surigao, Camiguin, Cagayan de Misa- 
mis, Iligan, Harihohoe, Bais, Dumaguete and Iloilo. 

The Southwest Line runs from Manila to Iloilo, Zam- 
boanga, Isabella de Baslin, lolo (Sula) Siassi, Tataan, 
Bongao, Parang Parang, Cottabato, Glan, Sarangaui, 
Dayas, Matti, Lebak and St. Maria. 

These steamers return to Manila from eight to ten 
days after leaving ; local steamers for the neighboring 
islands leave nearly every day. Manila is 7,050 nautical 
miles from San Francisco, and 9,465 nautical miles from 
Cadiz. 



14 MANII.A AND THK 

ANIMALS. 

There are very few wild animals, and not any that are 
dangerous to human life. Monkeys abound, and among 
the others, there is one species of pure white monkey. 
The wild boar is hunted and of deer there are three 
known species. The horses of the islands are small, but 
they are well shaped and very hardy. The Europeans 
have a racecourse not far from Manila, and it is recorded 
that one of these native horses has carried 154 pounds a 
mile, in a little more than two minutes. Buffaloes are 
employed in all field work ; but there are plenty of ordi- 
nary cattle and goats. 



POPULATION AND INHABITANTS. 

The population of the islands number about eight mil- 
lions. The European population is small, and in compar- 
ison of numbers unimportant. There are about 100,000 
Chinese scattered through the islands, and most of the 
petty trading and the banking are in their hands, although 
there are many coolies among them. The traders and 
the bankers of the Chinese are sharp and very shrewd, 
and have made themselves disliked among the easier 
going of the natives. There are about 25,000 Aetas or 
Negritos, as they are called by the Spaniards. The is- 
land of Negros has taken its name from these people. 
They are believed to be the remaining descendants of the 
aborigines of the islands. They resemble the Bushmen 
of South Africa in color and in facial characteristics. 
They are small, the average height of a full-grown and 
stalwart man being four feet eight inches. They are so 
few in number, and so in the interior, that they are seen 
but seldom. There are many half-breeds, descendants of 
Spaniards and natives, or of Chinese and natives ; but the 
bulk of the population — the now so-called natives — are 
Tagals, some of them heathens and some Mohammedans. 
These latter have been practically in full control of the 
more southern of the islands ; they are fierce and war- 
like ; they have esteemed it an especial merit to kill a 
Spaniard. Whenever, however, a Spanish Governor has 



PHILIPPINK ISI.ANDS 15 

Opposed them who has beeu able and resolute, he has 
had no difficulty in holding them in subjection or in 
check. Their arms are antiquated, the principal being 
something between a machete and a butcher's cleaver, 
and the others being a straight kriss for cutting, and the 
serpent-shaped kriss for thrusting, and, when serious 
fighting is intended, a spear. These weapons are fash- 
ioned by themselves, and are said to be of excellent qual- 
ity. A few soldiers, capably officered as American sol- 
diers are, a few discharges, upon occasion, from well- 
aimed rapid-fire guns, and perhaps, the patrol of the 
coasts and rivers with a few light-draft gun-boats will 
bring order, and insure its maintenance, where disorder 
and lawlessness have prevailed so long. 

On first arrival the Spaniards found a part of the na- 
tives somewhat civilized ; but while they had a written 
language, of which some specimens have been preserved, 
it was of no value in throwing light upon their early his- 
tory, and their traditions are very few. As in Mexico 
and Central America, the Spanish priests have been only 
too successful in their efforts to extripateall mythological 
and other lore. The treatment of the inhabitants has 
been more merciful, however, than in the western pos- 
sessions. 

The Philippine Malays are a superior race to many 
other Asiatic peoples — orderly, amiable, courteous, hon- 
est, and exceedingly superstitious, they are easily in- 
fluenced upon profession of Christianity. Like most 
tropical people, their efforts are intermittent rather than 
steady ; their wants are readily provided for, and they take 
life easy. The inhabitants of the island are composed of 
the most diverse mixture of races, including Malays, 
Aetas, Negritos, pure blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Indios, 
Moors, Europeans, and mixtures of each with the other. 
There are nearly as many different tribes as there are 
islands, and it is said that 500 languages and dialects are 
spoken in the islands at the present day. The inhabi- 
tants are generally tractable and amenable to govern- 
ment, and generally not hostile to farmers. In the 
inaccessible parts of the island there are still tribes of 
unsubdued savages, whose number is estimated at about 



16 MANIIvA AND THE 

602,000. Fond of music, dancing, and amusements of 
all kinds ; they are born gamblers, and cock fighting is 
their greatest passion. Every town has its cockpit, and 
in the largest the spectators may be numbered by thou- 
sands. This amusement was heavily taxed by the Span- 
iards, and advantage waf taken of the taste for gambling 
by running a lottery for the benefit of the government. 

Probably not more than fifteen or twenty thousand 
Spaniards, or people of pure Spanish blood, are permanent 
residents, and the number of other foreigners is not 
large. The majority of these are at Manila, where the 
English have established a club in the suburbs, which 
has become the centre of foreign social intercourse. 

Without doubt, the most primitive of the Philippine 
peoples are the Aetas, or Negritos, a race of blacks of 
almost dwarfish stature. They are believed to be, and 
with good reason, the true aborigines of the islands, who, 
even at the time of the early Spanish conquest, had begun 
to go to the wall under the fierce struggle for existence 
with the encroaching Malay tribes. At present they are 
well-nigh extinct, and promise to become entirely so. 
These people are confined to the higher mountain ranges 
in Luzon and Negros, although a few are found in Min- 
danao. 



ClfD 



PHII.IPPINB ISLANDS 



17 



TABLE SHOWING PROVINCES OF THE PHILIPPINE 

ISLANDS WITH THEIR POPULATIONS 

AND CAPITALS* 



ISLAND OF LUZON. 



province;. POPUI.ATION. 

Abra 49,702 

Albay ...:... 296,850 

Amburayau 30,150 

Apayaos 6,000 

Bataan 52,000 

Batangas 212,192 

Benguet 15,932 

Biuatangan 

Bontoc 24,502 

Bulacan 230,000 

Cabugaoan 

Cagayan 112,357 

Camarines 185,878 

Cavite 133,926 

CavatDas 

Ilocos Norte . . . . . 156,900 

Ilocos Sur 172,836 

Infanta 10,200 

Isabela de Luzon . . 46,846 

Itaves 15,208 

Laguna 177,000 

Lepanto 19,422 

Manila 400,238 

Morong 42,748 

Nueva Ecija .... 155,000 



CAPITAI^. 

Bangued. 

Albay. 

Alilem. 

Bagubagu. 

Balanga. 

Batangas. 

La Trinidad. 

Binatangan. 

Bontoc. 

Bulacan. 

Cabugaoan. 

Tuguegarao. 

Nueva Caceres. 

Cavite. 

Cayapa. 

Laoag. 

Vigan. 
I Binangonan 
( de Lampon. 

Ilagan. 

Macogao. 

Santa Cruz. 

Cervantes. 

Manila. 

Morong. 

San Isidro. 



18 MANII.A AND THK 

ISLAND OF i,uzoN — Continued 

PROVINCE. ^ POPUI.ATION. CAPITAI,. 

Nueva Vizcaya .... 23,520 Bayombong. 

Pampanga ..... 250,000 Bacolor. 

Pangasinan 295,105 lyingayen. 

Principe 5,000 Baler. 

Ouiangan 29,800 Quiangan. 

Tarlac 97,947 Tarlac. 

Tayabas 105,576 Tayabas. 

Tiagan 3,041 San Emilio. 

Union (I^a) 119,421 San Fernando. 

Zambales 87,641 , Iba. 

ISIvAND OF MINDANAO. 

Basilan ....... 12,000 Isabela de Basila;n, 

Cottabato 3,000 Cottabato. 

Dapitan 12,653 Dapitan. 

Davao ....... 8,000 Davao. 

Matti 9,764 Matti. 

Misamis ...... 113,695 Cagayan. 

Surigao 95,775 Surigao. 

Zamboanga 21,300 Zamboanga. 

ADJACENT ISIvANDS. 

Balabac 1,100 Balabac. 

Batanes Islands ... 475 | ^^d^B^SS!''^'' 

Burias 1,600 San Pascual. 

Calamianes 16,380 Cuyo. 

Corregidor 569 San Jose. 

Marianas Islands . . 9,770 Agana. 

Masbate and Ticao . . 26,497 Masbate. 

Mindoro 106,170 Calapan. 

Paragua (La) .... 45,000 Puerto Priucesa. 

CAROI.INK AND PAI.AOS ISI.ANDS. 

Carolinas Occidentales 600 Santa Cristina. 

Carolinas Orientales . 4,500 I ^^a Hcension. 



phii^ippin:^ isi^ands 19 

visaya isi.ands. 

province:. POPUIvATION. capitai,. 

A 4-- iin ocrp f San Jose de 

^^^^q^^ 119,356 I Buena Vista. 

Bohol 247,745 Tagbilaran. 

Capiz . 189,171 Capiz. 

Cebu ... .^ ... . 504,076 Cebu. 

Concepcion ..... 19,342 Concepcion. 

Iloilo.' 472,798 Iloilo. 

Iveyte 270,491 Tacloban. 

Negros Occidentales . 226,995 Bacolod. 

Negros Orientales . . 94,782 Dumaguete. 

Romblon 38,633 Romblon. 

Samar 200,753 Catbalogan.- 

SUI.TANSHIP OF JOI.O. 

Jolo 17,112 Jolo. 



RELIGION AND EDUCATION. 

{From [/. S. War Department Report,) 

The Roman Catholic is the established church in the 
Philippines, which contains one archiepiscopal see and 
three bishoprics. Most of the ecclesiastical authority is 
in the hands of the various religious orders — Dominicans, 
Augustines, Franciscans, etc. — who are the real rulers of 
the country, as their power among the natives far ex- 
ceeds that of the various civil and military authorities. 
This power causes a great deal of jealousy, as is evi- 
denced by the long record in the history of the islands of 
bitter controversies between the church and civil authori- 
ties. The religious affairs on the islands are far behind 
the age, and it would be of great benefit to the people, 
who are naturally devout, if they were infused with more 
modern ideas and methods. 



20 MANII.A AND THE) 

The Spanish priests, friars of strict orders, come to the 
islands to stay, and, with scarcely an exception, do their 
duties faithfully and devotedly. Many of these Spanish 
curas have done much good work in the way of making 
roads and bridges and the building of churches, acting 
frequently as their own engineers and architects, with 
far less unsightly results than one might expect from 
persons who are supposed to be more conversant with 
breviary and rosary than with rule and compass. 

Priests of native extraction do not quite come up to the 
high standard of their Spanish confreres. They cannot 
all live up to the severity of monastic rules. These na- 
tive curas, moreover, suffer under the proverbial disad- 
vantage which affects the prophet in his own country, 
and, lacking the strength of mind and tenacity of vow of 
the Spanish priests, sometimes seek consolation in diver- 
sions of not quite a clerical or monastic character. 

Education is much neglected, and both the institutions 
for higher and primary instruction are antiquated in their 
methods and far behind the times. Although in nearly 
every town and village that is under the control of the 
government, a school may be found, neither the quality 
nor quantity of the instruction given is satisfactory. 

CLIMATE, 

The islands extend so far geographically that many 
diversities of climate may exist at the same time. In 
general, however, there are three seasons — the cold, the 
hot and the wet. During the cold season, which extends 
from November to February, woolen garments may be 
worn with comfort in the mornings and at night ; the 
skies are clear and the atmosphere balmy. The hot sea- 
son extends from March to June and the wet season from 
July to October. It will be seen that the recent opera- 
tions of the American army and navy were conducted 
during the worst season of the year ; but no unusual de- 
gree of sickness, such as prevailed at Camp Alger, in 
Virginia, for instance, was experienced by our soldiers or 
sailors. One correspondent has reported that w^hen it 
rained it rained indeed ; but that while the heat was in 



philippin:^ islands 21 

some degree uncomfortable it was not so hard to endure 
as had been expected, or as he had found it in America. 

In the region of Manila the hottest season is from 
March to June, the greatest heat being felt in May be- 
fore the rains set in, when the maximum temperature 
ranges from 80° to 100° in the shade. The coolest 
weather occurs in December and January, when the tem- 
perature falls at night to 60° or 65°, and seldom rises in 
the day above 75°. From November to February the 
sky is bright, the atmosphere cool and dry, and the 
weather in every way delightful. Observations made at 
the Observatorio Meteorologico de Manila have been 
compiled by the U. S. Weather Bureau, recovering a 
record of from seventeen to thirty-two years, from which 
the following is an extract : 

Temperature, degrees F. : 

Mean annual 80° 

Warmest month 82° 

Coolest month . 79° 

Highest 100° 

Ivowest 60° 

Humidity : 

Relative per cent 78 

Absolute grains per cubic foot 8.75 

Wind movement in miles : 

Daily mean 134 

Greatest daily 204 

Least daily 95 

Prevailing wind direction-N. E., November 
to April ; S. W., May to October. 

Cloudiness, annual per cent 53 

Days with rain 135 

Rainfall in inches : 

Mean annual 75.43 

Greatest monthly 120.98 

lycast monthly 55.65 



22 MANII.A AND THK 

The following is the mean temperature for the three 
seasons at points specified : 

Cold. Hot. Wet. 

Manila 72° 87° 84° 

Cebu 75° 86° 75° 

Davao 86° 88° 87° 

Sulu 81° 82° 83° 

Seasons vary with the prevailing winds (monsoons or 
trade winds), and are classed as ''wet" and ''dry." 
There is no abrupt change from one to the other, and 
between periods there are intervals of variable weather. 



IMPORTS* 

The following statement of the general trade of the 
Philippine Islands is taken from the * ' Review of the 
World's Commerce," 1896-'97, soon to be published by 
the Bureau of Foreign Commerce. According to a Brit- 
ish Foreign Office report No. 1932, annual series, 1897), 
the total imports into the islands in 1896 were valued at 
$10,631,250, and the exports at $20,175,000. The trade 
with several of the most important countries, compiled 
from the respective official statistics, was : 



Country. 



Great Britain 
Germany . . 
France . . . 
Belgium . . 
United States 
China . . . 
Japan . . . . 



Imports. 



$2,467,090 

744,928 
1,794,900 
272,240 
162,446 
103,680 
98,782 



Exports. 



$7,467,500 

223,700 

1,987,900 

45,660 

4,982,857 

13,770 

1,387,909 



In 1897. 

The chief imports are rice, flour, dress goods, wines, 
coal and petroleum. 

The public revenues of the islands have been about 
$15,000,000 annually, collected in taxes of all sorts — poll 
taxes upon imports and upon exports. 

For many years the Spanish government placed absurd 
restrictions upon trade ; but more recently the regula- 
tions have been more liberal. In 1897 the total imports 



PHII^IPPINB ISI.ANDS 23 

of the islands amounted to $10,631,250 in value and the 
exports to $20,175,000. In 1897 there were imported 
to the United States from the Philippines goods to the 
value of $4,982,857. 

In the same year there were sent to the islands from 
the United States goods of the ' ' magnificent ' ' value of 
$162,446, consisting mainly of flour, petroleum, leather 
goods and iron and steel, whereas in the same period 
there were imported to the Philippines from other coun- 
tries, principally from Spain, Great Britain, Germany 
and France : 

Chemicals and drugs to the value of . $800,000 

Cotton yarns 2,500,000 

Cotton friese goods 8,250,000 

Cotton knitted good 1,110,000 

Silk goods 500,000 

Paper 475,000 

Boots and shoes 140,000 

Spirits and liquors. 340,000 

Preserves and confectionery .... 800,000 

Not very long ago the cotton goods sent to the islands 
were mainly of Manchester or other English manufac- 
ture ; but more recently under the laws favoring trade 
with Spain their cotton goods were sent thither from 
Barcelona. 

The foregoing is a very suggestive table. It shows 
that the archipelago has been a very important market, 
although not to Americans. It does not require a very 
remarkable degree of prescience to foresee what an enlarge- 
ment of the American market there will be now that the 
affairs of the Philippines will be administered in an 
enlightened and progressive spirit ; now that development 
of the natural resources and the prosperity that follows 
development will be encouraged ; now that American 
ideas and American influence will prevail. 

EXPORTS. 

The principal staples of export are tobacco (manu- 
factured in raw), manila hemp, sugar cane, coffee 
and cocoa. The principal manufactures consist of a 



24 MANII.A AND THK 

variety of textile fabrics, hats, mats, baskets, ropes, 
furniture, coarse pottery, carriages and musical instru- 
ments. 

REVENUE. 

The public revenue has been about $12,000,000 per 
annum, of which the larger part has been raised from di- 
rect taxation, customs, monopolies, and lotteries. For 
the imposition and collection of taxes Spanish ingenuity 
has been exercised to the utmost, but the basis of the 
financial system in the Philippines has been the poll tax, 
which every adult under sixty years of age, male or fe- 
male, had to pay. There was no export duty on to- 
bacco, but almost every article of import was heavily 
taxed. On muslin and petroleum the duty has been 
about one hundred per cent, of cost. 

MANUFACTURES. 

The manufactures of the islands have been various, 
and now consist of hats, baskets, mats, ropes, furniture, 
coarse pottery, carriages, musical instruments and a vari- 
ety of textile fabrics, some of great excellence and beauty. 
Yet there are no mechanics in the islands that would be 
called skilled by American artisans. There is already 
room and will be more for the trained mechanic. It is, 
however, their great wealth in natural products that 
makes the Philippines so important a possession and so 
promising a field for enterprise 

MINERALS. 

Gold is very generally distributed throughout the 
islands. It has been obtained in profitable quantities in 
the alluvial deposits along the river courses ; but no 
systematic and intelligent efforts have been made to even 
ascertain the extent and value of the gold deposits. Cop- 
per mines are worked in various places and the heathen 
natives have been accustomed for many years to manu- 
facture copper utensils for their own use and for sale in 
the Christian settlements ; but the mines have been 
worked only enough to indicate their great value. Iron 



PHII.IPPINK ISLANDS ^5 

ore of unusual purity occurs in various parts of Luzon, 
Laguna, Bulacan, Pampangna, Camarinco, Norte and 
notably in the Camochin Mountains ; but notwithstand- 
ing the excellent character and the evidently large supply 
of the minerals there are no iron works with the excep- 
tion of a few small and unimportant foundries in the 
middle of the island of Leyte. Coal exists in the Philip- 
pines. Two vast fields have been discovered and partly 
surveyed, and the supply in these two fields alone will 
serve for many years to come ; but the existence of these 
fields would indicate the presence of others of equal size 
and importance. At the request of Admiral Dew^ey, 
Prof. George F. Brercer, of the United States Geological 
Survey, has made extensive researches as to the mineral 
resources of the Philippines, and consulted all the avail- 
able authorities. His report includes the following table 
of the mineral-bearing islands and their revenues of this 

kind : 

Luzon— Coal, gold, copper, lead, iron, sulphur, marble, 

kaolin. 

Cataanduanes, Sibuyan, Boholand Panaoan— Gold only. 

Marimduque — Lead and silver. 

Mindora— Coal, gold and copper. 

Carraray, Batan, Rapu Rapu, Semarara, Negros— Coal 
only. 

Masbete — Coal and copper. 

Romblon — Marble. 

Samar — Coal and gold. 

Panay— Coal, oil, gas, gold, copper, iron and perhaps 
mercury. 

Biliram — Sulphur only. 

Leyte — Coal, oil and perhaps mercury. 

Cebu— Coal, oil, gas, lead, silver and iron. 

Mindanao— Coal, gold, copper and platinum. 

Sulu Archipelago— Pearls. 

AGRICULTURE* 

The soil of the islands is exceedingly fertile ; but there 
has been little or no attempt made to cultivate it thor- 
oughly or scientifically. In a country where fodder may 



26 MANII.A AND ^HB 

be easily and economically grown, there is no dairy farm, 
and, indeed, there are no farms worthy of the name at 
all. The farmer who has found it impossible to make 
his impoverished farm profitable will find in this rich 
and fertile soil ample reward for his skill and labor. 
Rice is extensively and successfully grown ; but the crop 
is consumed by the natives and the Chinese for their own 
sustenance. Mangoes, plantains, the luscious Manganese 
fruits, grow almost wild and in great abundance. There 
are said to be one hundred varieties of bananas known 
upon the islands. The most important plants, however, 
are tobacco, the Abaca, producing manila hemp, sugar 
cane, coffee and cocoa. 

Tobacco has been very extensively grown. Until 
within a very few years the trade in tobacco was a Gov- 
ernment monopoly. The growers were required to sell 
their product to the government warehouses, and only 
there, and prices fixed b3^ the ofiicials. That the prices 
were below the market value there is no need to state. 
The restrictions upon the trade were numerous some 
little time ago, and notwithstanding the many years of 
discouragement, and the general disorder in the islands, 
there were exported in 1896 tobacco and cigars to the 
value of $3,250,000. 

The first coffee plantation of any size and importance 
was started only in 1826 ; but the cultivation of coffee 
is already extensive. There is no reason why the coffee 
of the Philippines should not compete in the markets of 
the world with the best coffee grown anywhere, except 
that heretofore too little care has been given to the plan- 
tations and to the handling and transshipment of the 
crop. 

The extent to which sugar has been cultivated is indi- 
cated by the Exports of $8,000,000 worth in 1896. Bet- 
ter opportunities for the profitable production of the best 
cane sugar are present in the Philippines than exist in 
Cuba. The Cuban growers and manufacturers of sugar, 
however, have profited by the proximity of the United 
States and the consequent purchase there of modern ideas 
and methods. There has been in the Philippines some 
tendency to import better machinery, but it may be said, 



PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 27 

truthfully, that there has been no scientific treatment of 
the growing cane or the product. Whenever men of 
intelligence and enterprise introduce modern methods and 
modern machinery into the cane-growing districts of the 
archipelago, it will become one of the important, if, in- 
deed, not the most important sugar-producing country in 
the world. 

Nature has provided that residents of the Philippines 
shall retain forever a monopoly in the production of ma- 
nila hemp. It grows nowhere else; nothing so good for 
the making of cordage has yet been discovered. It is 
cultivated with very little trouble and the commodity 
prepared for the market with little additional trouble. 
The exports of hemp in 1896 were valued at $7,500,000, 
but when machinery brings its aid to the preparation of 
the product this output will be enormously increased. 
At present the stalks of the Abaco, the hemp-producing 
plant, are split by hand and the fibre so procured. 

VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 

The Philippines are very rich in woods ; ebony, cedar, 
iron wood, sapanwood, logwood and gum trees abound. 
Gutta-percha is found in certain localities. Cocos nuci- 
fera is of great value, trunk, branches, leaves, fruit, 
shell and husk being used. Bamboo and areca palm are 
abundant and of great utility. Two woods, the ''ban- 
ava" and the '' malave,'' resist the destructive action of 
water for centuries. Many plants have medicinal value, 
others (the ' ' camansi ' ' and the ' ' tabuyog ^ ' ) are poison- 
ous. Mangoes, plantains, jack fruits, and the Malayan 
fruits are met with. Rice is the staple food, but often 
not enough is raised to supply the demand. Potatoes, 
peas, and even wheat, are raised in the higher localities. 

The mountains of the islands, a few of which have been 
mentioned, are clothed to their summits with forests of 
inestimable commercial value, for interspersed with the 
fruit-bearing trees are immense trees producing the 
handsomest and most valuable hard wood timber. Gum 
trees, iron and sapanwood, cedar, ebony and teak are 
among the known varieties. The supply is apparently 



28 MANII.A AND THB 

inexhaustible, and if the cutting is carried on under 
proper forestry regulations, as it no doubt will be, these 
forests will amply supply the hard wood markets of the 
world and provide princely fortunes to many people for 
many decades to come. 



FORMER ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE SPANISH 

GOVERNMENT, 

{From U.S. War Department Report.^ 

In Madrid there is a Council of State for the Philippines, 
which has in charge the interests of the colony and acts 
as an advisory board to the Minister of the Colonies. At 
Manila the administration of the government has for its 
head and chief a Governor- General, who is at the same 
time Captain-General, Director and Inspector-General of 
all arms and institutes; this authority is also delegated 
Superintendent of Finances, President of the Administra- 
tive Council of the Ayuntamiento, Protector of the Span- 
ish Bank and of the Economical Society of the Friends of 
the Country, Sub-delegate of Postal Service, '' Vice-Real 
Patrono,'' etc. Next to the Captain- Generalship of Cuba, 
this is the most important and lucrative post at the dis- 
posal of the home government. This jurisdiction also 
extends over the Mariana or Ladrone Islands, the Caro- 
lines, and the Pelew Islands. 

There is also a I^ieutenant- Governor, who takes the 
place of the Captain- General in case of his death, and a 
Council in Manila, which has a voice in all questions con- 
cerning the internal affairs of the island. The archbishop 
also exerts considerable power, and the ecclesiastical 
authority is interwoven in all the machinery of govern- 
ment. 

The islands are divided into four provinces and four 
military districts, and are governed by politico-military 
commanders. 

The first exercise governmental jurisdiction, ordinary 
jurisdiction in first instance falling to the charge of the 
mayor alcaldes, who must be educated men ; the second 
exercise by themselves governmental and legal jurisdic- 



PHII.IPPINK ISLANDS 29 

tion in first instance, and all are captains in war. The 
province of Manila has a different organization. There 
have been created for Visayas and Mindanao two politico- 
military central governments of the brigadier class, by 
royal decree of July 30, 1860. Each province is sub- 
divided into pueblos (towns), more or less numerous, and 
each one has a petty governor (gobernadorcillo), with 
other ministers of justice, whose number is not fixed and 
who discharge various duties. In some pueblos, when 
permitted by the governor, a separate society or guild is 
formed with gobernadorcillos and ofiicers of justice se- 
lected from the same. The gobernadorcillos have in their 
pueblo the entire municipal charge belonging to the au- 
thority conferred upon them by their appointment, with 
the special obligation of aiding the parish priests in every- 
thing relating to worship and the observance of religous 
precepts ; in civil cases they have priority over judges 
up to the value of three taels, or forty-four pesos; in 
criminal cases they proceed to the formation of a 
summary court, with which they account to the chief 
of the province ; they are obliged to attend to collec- 
tions on the royal account and others dictated by the 
ordinances of a good government, and they are per- 
mitted to collect certain duj:ies which are fixed in their 
own titles. 

In each pueblo there are also other ofiicials called Ca- 
bezas de Barangay. Each Cabeza is charged with the 
collections of forty-five or fifty tributes from the same 
number of families; he must reside in the same ward or 
street with them, look after the good order and harmony 
of the people under him, distribute among them the duties 
which are to be shared in common, settle their differences 
and collect their tribute, which he afterwards delivers to 
the gobernadorcillo, or to the administrator of the prov- 
ince through the proper channels. The Cabezas, by 
virtue of their office, are attorneys of the **barangais" 
(families under them), in all business affairs that occur in 
the community. 

A counter-admiral of the national navy is chief of all 
the naval forces of the Archipelago. Ecclesiastical mat- 
ters depend upon the Archbishop of Manila. 



30 MANII^A AND THE 

EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSULAR REPORTS* 

(JUNE, J8980 

During the quarter ending December 31, 1897, there 
were exported from these islands to the United States 
and Great Britain 216,898 bales of hemp (280 pounds per 
bale), of which 138,792 bales went to the United States 
and 78,106 bales to Great Britain. During the year 1897 
there was an increase in the export of hemp from the 
Philippines to the continent of Europe of 19,741 bales ; to 
Australia, 2,192 bales ; to China, 28 bales ; to Japan, 2,628 
bales, and to the United States 133,896 bales — a total in- 
crease of 158,485 bales, while to Great Britain there was 
a decrease of 22,348 bales. Thus, of increased shipments 
from the Philippines those to the United States w^ere 544 
per cent, greater than to all other countries combined. 
Of the total exports of hemp from the Philippines for 
the ten years ending 1897, amounting to 6,528,965 
bales (914,055 tons), 41 per cent, went to the United 
States. 

During the same year the Philippine Islands exported 
to the United States and to Europe, 1,582,904 tons of 
sugar, of which 875,150 tons went to the United 
States, 666,391 tons to Great Britain, and 41,362 
tons to the continent of Europe, showing that of the 
total exports more than 55 per cent, went to the United 
States. 

At the current values in New York of hemp (4 cents 
per pound), and of raw sugar (3 3/8 cents per pound) , the 
exports of these two products alone from these islands to 
the United States during the ten years under review 
amounted to $89,263,722.80, or an average of nearly 
$8,926,372 per year. 

Data as to cigars, tobacco, copra, woods, hides, shells, 
indigo, coffee, etc., are not now obtainable, but a con- 
servative estimate would so raise the above figures as to 
show United States imports from these islands to average 
about $1,000,000 per month. To-day there are authen- 
ticated invoices for exports to the United States amount- 
ing to $138,066.12. 



PHILIPPINE ISLANDS 31 

OPPORTUNITY. 

To exhibit the strategic value of the PhiHppine Islands 
to the United States, or the service they may render as a 
key to the trade of China or that of other parts of the 
important east, is not the purpose of this pamphlet ; 
but rather to show their own commercial value and the 
opportunity they offer to enlarge and extend the market 
for American productions and their promise of success 
and prosperity to whomsoever may choose to demand the 
fulfillment of that promise. 

In the islands will be found surprises and adventures 
for those who seek them; the unusual in costume and man- 
ners; and in natural scenery for lovers of the picturesque, 
abundant opportunity for success and the attainment of 
wealth by the enterprising and the energetic. 

Opportunity has been said to extend its alluring invi- 
tation to every man, once in his lifetime. Here, in this 
new island possession of the United States, opportunity 
awaits the coming of those who are adventurous and en- 
terprising enougn to reap where Nature has sown so 
lavishly. Nature has done its part more than well ; it 
has done more than sow, for the product and fruit are 
ready for those who will, to gather. 



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